Post navigation

Which company leads new vehicle sales in the UK?

If you’re looking for a new car or van to lease or drive under a contract hire agreement, the chances are that you have considered a Ford. The American motor giant has further improved its position as the UK’s leading new car brand in 2014, stretching its market lead and increasing its total new vehicle sales and market share.

And, they also lead the way when it comes to commercial vehicles in the UK. Keep reading to find out why the Detroit motor company is so far out in front…

The biggest brand for new vehicle sales in the UK

According to the latest official sales figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Ford leads the way in terms of overall new car and commercial vehicle sales in the UK. They are the biggest selling motoring brand in this country.

According to the official SMMT figures, February car sales in the UK were up 3.0 per cent at 68,736, compared with February 2013. Ford car sales were 9,935.

The Fiesta and Focus are the UK’s two best-selling cars in 2014, thanks mainly to cheap car leasing deals and the fact that they are excellent models. The carmaker also holds the top two positions in the commercial vehicle market with the Transit and Transit Custom.

The Fiesta was the number one best seller in February, notching up 4,415 registrations, up from 3,655 in 2013. The company has also extended its lead in retail car sales with increases for February and for the year to date compared with 2013. In February their retail car sales share grew significantly to 15.3 per cent, a 1.6 percentage point increase over February 2013.

New commercial vehicle sales also rise

Ford commercial vehicle sales were 2,783 in February and for the year to date their CV sales were 7,851, 10.4 per cent up from 2013. The company’s market share was up 1.5 percentage points at 23.2 per cent.

Their medium commercials, headed by the industry-leading Transit and Transit Custom, were 2,475, and for the year to date sales were up from 5,764 to 6,939. Their share of medium commercial sales was 32.0 per cent, up from 31.3 per cent for the same period in 2013. The Fiesta Van, Transit Custom and Transit were all leaders in their respective segments in February.

The sales success of its car and commercial vehicle ranges saw their total vehicle registrations for the year to date grow 7.6 per cent, compared with the same period in 2013. Sales reached 39,442 and their market share was up 0.1 of a percentage point at 15.3 per cent.

In the keenly competitive net fleet sector, Ford cars and CVs continue to make significant progress. Great fleet and contract hire deals saw their net fleet car share for the year to date up 3.7 percentage points to 13.6 per cent, compared with the same period in 2013.

Mark Ovenden, thecompany’s chairman and managing director in Britain, said: “Ford’s fast sales start to 2014 is solidly based on growth in the more profitable retail and net fleet sectors and is a result of our continued investment in exciting products and industry-leading technologies, delivered through the strongest dealer network in the UK.

“More retail and fleet buyers choose Ford over any other vehicle brand and we are building on this with a range of new products planned for this year, including new Transit, new Focus and new Mondeo.”

About David Petherick

David Petherick speaks Russian and Spanish, lives in Edinburgh, and drives a Peugeot 308. He is a keen Formula 1 follower and blogs a race preview before each race. He was cited by the BBC as the world's first Digital Biographer and was formerly UK Editor at The Next Web.